Book holder



May 17, 1938'.

w. v. JOHNSON BOOK HOLDER Filed July 2, 1956 Patented May 17, 1938UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOOK HOLDER William V. Johnson, Washington,D. 0.

Application July 2, 1936, Serial No. 88,642

1 Claim.

This invention relates to book holders, and it is an object of theinvention. to provide a device of this kind which can be employed toadvantage to support a book in position for reading and which can alsobe adjusted to permit it to be conveniently used as a book end.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved bookholder whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein:-

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a book holder constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the device asillustrated in Figure l with an applied book in elevation;

Figure 3 is a View in top: plan of the device as illustrated in Figure 2with an associated book diagrammatically indicated by broken lines;

Figure 4 is a view in end elevation illustrating the device in positionto be used as a book end, an associated book being indicated by brokenlines.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, my improved holder comprisestwo plates I and 2 preferably formed from one sheet of material and inright angular relation. The plate I constitutes a back plate and theplate 2 a foot plate. These plates I and 2 are of preferred dimensionsand configuration but are preferably broad so that they may co-operateto the best advantage to hold a book in open position. The foot plate 2has: its side Walls forwardly disposed in convergence and secured to theouter end portion of the plate 2 and extending transversely thereacrossis a pad 3 of sponge rubber or other readily yielding material. Theinner face 4 of this pad 3 is substantially at right angles to the footplate 2, thus assuring the pad 3 serving as an effective medium or stopfor coaction with the pages of an open book to hold such pages in properposition for reading. When it is desired to turn a page such page willreadily pass over this pad 3.

The rear portion of the foo-t plate 2 has secured thereto the lowerportion of a flat leaf spring 5 which is positioned closely adjacent tothe back plate I and coacts therewith as illustrated in Figure 2 toclamp a book cover 6 of a book to the back plate I. This spring 5, as isillustrated in Figures 1 and 2, substantially conforms to the dimensionsand configuration of the plate I.

The outer or free end portion of the back plate I has hingedly connectedthereto, as at I, a prop 0 plate 3 of a length greater than the lengthof the plate I and substantially triangular in form.

The outward swinging movement of the plate 8 as afforded by this hingedconnection I is limited by a rearwardly directed stop lug 9 ex- 15tending rearwardly from the upper end of the back plate I. When thedevice is to be used for supporting a book for reading, the prop plate 8is swung out tothe limit of its movement away from the back plate I andthe heel Ill provided at the junction of the plates I and 2 is restedupon a suitable supporting surface as is also the outer or free end ofthe prop plate 8 as illustrated in Figure 2. This maintains the footplate 2 on an upward incline with the applied book in a convenientposition for readmg.

It is also to be stated that the outer or free edge II of the prop plate8 is straight from end to end and substantially parallel to the heel I0whereby is facilitated the maintenance of the device in position whenused for holding a book.

The outer end marginal portion II is also returned to provide a beadaffording a stop for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to. 5

When it is desired touse the device as a book end the plate 8 is swunginto closed position against the plate I with the plate 2 extendingupwardly. The free end portion of the plate 8 extends a distancebeyond'the upstanding plate 2 and a book is adapted to be rested uponsaid extended portion. The bead II provides a stop for coaction with thebook to prevent the same from falling in the event an intermediate bookwithin a row of books should be removed. 45

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a bookholder constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be as- 50 sembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that myinvention is susceptible of some change and modification withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason Ido not wish to be understood as limiting myself 55 plate is foldedagainst the back plate and the foot plate is in a position to permit thedevice to be used as a book end, and means associated with the backplate for clamping the back of a book to said back plate when the deviceis in adjustment for use as a book holder, the foot plate being providedwith means for holding coaction with the leaves of the boo-k, the outerend portion of the prop plate being provided thereacross with a bead toprovide a stop for coaction with a book when the device is being used asa book end.

WILLIAM V. JOHNSON.

